The Double Barrel Roadhouse features a selection of vibrant spirits and spirited food, including a fun take on mini-corn dogs.
The Double Barrel Roadhouse features vibrant spirits and spirited food, like this take on mini-corn dogs.Monica Zurowski
/ Calgary Herald

Several Vegas shows are popular with the young Vegas crowd, including the steamy Cirque du Soleil production of Zumanity. Courtesy, Cirque du Soleil
Several Vegas shows are popular, including the steamy Cirque du Soleil production of Zumanity.Courtesy, Cirque du Soleil photo
/ Calgary Herald

Dayclubs have become as important as nightclubs on the Vegas party scene; here, revellers party it up in the sun at Wet Republic at the MGM Grand.
Dayclubs have become as important as nightclubs in the Vegas party scene; here, revellers party it up in the sun at Wet Republic at the MGM Grand.Courtesy, MGM Resorts photo
/ Calgary Herald

The new restaurant Yusho at the Monte Carlo serves up delicious Japanese street food and carbonated cocktails on tap.Monica Zurowski
/ Calgary Herald

But these days, Vegas wants to ensure the young-of-age travellers know they’ve got a place in Sin City, too.

Welcome to the next evolution of Las Vegas — a place where dayclubs are as hot as nightclubs, where DJs have become the stars of the show, and where it’s never too early in the day to start a cocktail crawl.

As a destination, Vegas understands the need for change better than most.

In the last two decades alone, its tourism industry has changed to expand offerings in areas ranging from fine food and first-rate shopping to luxurious spas and high-end art.

Now, the city has evolved again to open its arms wide to the newer Vegas visitors — the young and the hip.

It’s not so much about the rat pack, but rather the frat pack, with movies such as The Hangover adding to the popularity of Vegas as a destination for anyone celebrating anything, from getting married and getting divorced to getting older and just getting hammered.

The city is a particular hit with young adults once they reach the age of 21 — the legal age of drinking and gambling in Las Vegas. So, for those who have turned 21 — and for those who just want to channel their inner 21-year-old — here’s a list of 21 things to do (and drink) in Vegas.

1. Say hello to Hakkasan. It’s the mega nightclub at the MGM Grand that has to be seen to be believed; the $100 million club holds about 7,000 people throughout its five storeys. Watch for high-tech special effects, confetti guns and acrobatic performers that take the club experience to new levels.

2. Buy a bottle. The most awesome spectacle at the mega clubs is the bottle service for VIP booths. At Hakkasan, for example, when a table orders a bottle of booze (easily starting at $850), a statuesque blond weaves through the crowd carrying the bottle high above her head, while an entourage of gorgeous girls in matching outfits dances alongside, waving LED light wands. The delivery of bottles becomes more elaborate as the night goes on. By 2 a.m., for example, the entourage is often followed by three members of a drum corps (in uniform) and a dancing Chinese dragon.

3.Celebrate Vegas’ roots. Bet $21 on a hand of 21, more appropriately called Blackjack.

4.Order one of those big-ass, yard-long cocktails. They taste way too watered down by the time you get to the bottom, but they make for a memorable photo.

5.Dance to a DJ. In case you’ve missed it, the No. 1 element that now makes a club hot is the DJ. They’ve become celebs, with some making $200,000 or more for one night’s work. With the EDM (electronic dance music) genre sweeping the city, Hakkasan has a slate of resident DJs including the world-famous Tiesto, Steve Aoki and Calvin Harris. Harris is a 30-year-old who just a few years ago was stocking grocery shelves for a living; he now makes an estimated $46 million a year, according to Forbes.

7.Scream even more. Amusement park rides dot the strip with one of the latest being El Loco at the Circus Circus Adventuredome (home to more than two dozen rides.) The El Loco has a 90-degree drop, a doughnut roll, hairpin turns, over-the-edge twists and G-force drops.

8.“Lick, shoot, suck.” Tequila, that is. The drink menu at Hecho en Vegas explains the best ways to enjoy tequila, under a heading of these three words. It serves about 105 varieties and for $30, you can try three different tequilas. Don’t forget to put something delicious in your stomach, too. Handmade tamales, street tacos, enchiladas and guacamole prepared tableside are all worthy considerations.

9.Don’t let sunlight stop the party. “Dayclubs” are the new nightclubs and “daylife” is just as important as nightlife. A beach club called Daylight at Mandalay Bay is making waves with its open-air entertainment, DJ performances and 70 daybeds and 25 cabanas/bungalows, as is Wet Republic at MGM Grand.

10.Do at least one thing that you can tell your parents about when you get home. The world-famous O, by Cirque du Soleil, at Bellagio is a show not to be missed, while Zarkana at Aria is the Canadian troupe’s latest spellbinding offering.

11.Take in another show, which you may not want to tell your parents about. For the girls, there’s Thunder from Down Under, a male dance revue from Australia. For the guys, well, there’s no shortage of special clubs. For couples, check out the steamier side of Cirque du Soleil at Zumanity.

12. Shake up your tastebuds. Try the Japanese-inspired street food at one of the best new restaurants — Yusho, at Monte Carlo. Order the Logan Poser Ramen (crispy pork, hen egg, nori and cucumber) or the Crispy Cod Steam Bun. Don’t miss the draught cocktails; concoctions such as Road-Soda and Booze Cola come straight out of the tap. Oh, and you can drink Sake from a can here, too, just like they do in Japan.

13. Chill for a while. Do some people watching in the new open-air plaza outside the Monte Carlo and look for street performers.

14. Ok, enough chilling. Pop into the Double Barrel Roadhouse on the plaza for some high-octane fun. There’s plenty of cold drinks and good food (such as roadside sliders and kickin’ ahi tuna lettuce wraps), along with catwalk performances by the restaurant’s DB girls.

15. Take the slots for a spin. While some games of chance need a fair amount of explaining (yes, I mean you, craps), putting $20 in a slot machine is an easy way to try your luck.

16. Give your mind and body a rest. Stop at one of the many spas, such as ESPA at Vdara. This eco-friendly spa is the ideal place to get your Zen on.

17.Linger in the lobby of Aria, the ideal spot to meet before a night out. The Lobby Bar offers eight signature cocktails, along with small plates, such as caviar chips and dip or devilled egg salad with candied bacon.

18.Get an “I Love Dick’s” T-shirt or bumper sticker. They’re available at Dick’s Last Resort (in Excalibur), an American restaurant chain that’s become famous for training staff to be obnoxious. Servers put large paper hats — with insulting phrases — on customers’ heads. It’s all in good fun, but those with sensitive feelings are best to stay away.

19.Do something that doesn’t involved alcohol. Visit Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden at the Mirage. Three adorable white lion cubs joined the menagerie this summer. For a special experience, visitors can work as a dolphin trainer or even paint with the dolphins.

20.Expand your mind. CityCenter is home to a huge free-to-view public art collection. Take a walk around and stand back in awe.

21.Ok, all that walking around is tiring. Make sure you’ve found a good place to hang your hat. There are plenty of options: Mandalay Bay has a lively beach area; MGM Grand is one of the biggest hotels in the world, if you’re looking for round-the-clock action; and deals abound at Excalibur, Luxor and Circus Circus. On the other end of the scale, if you want to stay where the rich and famous sometimes do, check our Aria and Bellagio.

Go ahead and indulge. After all, you’re an adult now.

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